The Onset of Maternal Behavior in Sheep and Goats: Endocrine, Sensory, Neural, and Experiential Mechanisms

The Role of Oxytocin in Domestic Animal’s Maternal Care: Parturition, Bonding, and Lactation

“…This finding was similar to a study reporting that salivary OXT concentration was significantly higher during the first day after farrowing (1654 pg/mL) than after nine days (1142 pg/mL) [ 86 ]. From an endocrine perspective, the first post-partum days are usually accompanied by higher OXT signaling due to the positive feedback loop initiated by suckling [ 87 ]. The positive OXT feedback from the newborns’ suckling also stimulates OXT release in several mammals [ 88 , 89 ].…”

“…Although OXT is considered essential for maternal care, which includes nest-building, reluctance to leave the nest, genital and overall licking of the newborn, nursing, and direct contact with the litter [ 92 ] in mammalian species, the OXT action can pass from crucial to nonessential, depending on the neurodevelopmental stage at birth or the amount of help the dams can receive from other members of the herd [ 87 , 93 ], and can help not only with the establishment but also with the maintenance of the maternal behavior [ 94 ]. Ungulates build highly selective maternal care for their offspring.…”

“…Recent studies in rabbits have shown that OXT antagonist administration does not impair maternal behavior [ 175 ]; however, studies by Keverne and Kendrick [ 99 ] have reported that OXT’s effect on maternal neuroendocrine regulation is affected by the administration of opioid receptor blockers, limiting OXT release, a relevant issue when using analgesic treatment or other therapeutic protocols during parturition [ 27 ]. Moreover, nursing and maternal traits are highly motivated by parity, species, experience, and intrapartum events such as dystocia [ 87 ]. Therefore, further research must address the hormonal response that elicits maternal behavior as a complex phenomenon, not solely dependent on OXT or other neuropeptides.…”